whenever you fall

Whenever you fall, pick up something…. Disappointment is my daily bread. I thrive on it.

Oswald T. Avery

The Great Influenza: The Epic Story of the Deadliest Plague in History by John M. Barry. p.293

head pointed toward the sun

Prison and the authorities conspire to rob each man of his dignity. In and of itself, that assured that I would survive, for any man or institution that tries to rob me of my dignity will lose because I will not part with it at any price or under any pressure. I never seriously considered the possibility that I would not emerge from prison one day. I never thought that a life sentence truly meant life and that I would die behind bars. Perhaps I was denying this prospect because it was too unpleasant to contemplate. But I always knew that someday I would once again feel the grass under my feet and walk in the sunshine as a free man.

I am fundamentally an optimist. Whether that comes from nature or nurture, I cannot say. Part of being optimistic is keeping one’s head pointed toward the sun, one’s feet moving forward. There were many dark moments when my faith in humanity was sorely tested, but I would not and could not give myself up to despair. That way lay defeat and death.

Nelson Mandela

Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela. Back Bay Books. 1995. p. 391

their full share of credit

There are many men in this world who have been over-estimated all the days of their lives, and others who have never had their full share of credit.

Heber J. Grant

Gospel Standards, p.186

a moment of pain

A lifetime of glory is worth a moment of pain.

Louis Zamperini

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand. Random House. 2010. 496 pages.

you're a provider of hope

“The No. 1 thing for all leaders: You’re a provider of hope,” [Coach Herm] Edwards said. “It’s a service position. You actually serve them; they don’t serve you. That’s very important. … There are two ways you lead: You lead by your seat, or you lead by your feet. I choose to lead by my feet. I know the people that I work with. I make sure I communicate with people. They want to see you.”

Anna Katherine Clemmons

"ASU Coach Herm Edwards is Preparing Athletes for Football Season - and Life." USA Today.  November 2019